Parents warned of beach assaults

PARENTS have been warned not to let their children visit False Bay beaches unaccompanied, after two groups of teenagers were allegedly held up at knife and gunpoint by a gang of five youths.

With the summer holidays in full swing, the warnings were published on the Fish Hoek Beach Facebook page and on Muizenberg Notice Board of the two incidents which occurred in the past two weeks.

The Facebook post indicated that “a group of five teenage girls were on Jagger’s Walk, Fish Hoek on Sunday, December 3 around 5pm (when they) were held at knifepoint and robbed of their possessions…

“A gang of five youths, approximately 20 years old, have been targeting teenagers as they come off the beach,” the post read.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed that a criminal case had been reported at Fish Hoek SAPS and no arrests had been made.

“The victims in this case are minors and property was taken from them after they were engaged in conversation, then threatened with a knife,” said Van Wyk.

Muizenberg Notice Board reported that on Friday, December 8, “three teenage boys were held up at knife and gunpoint outside the public toilets on the beachfront at Muizenberg and were also robbed of their bags and phones.

“Had it not been for a good Samaritan who sprayed the gang with pepper spray they would have probably have been beaten up, but unfortunately they did get away with their bags. Please share with parents considering letting their children go to the beach unaccompanied over the holidays.”

Van Wyk, the Neighbourhood Watch and Muizenberg Improvement District ( MID) could not confirm the Muizenberg robbery.

On Thursday, on Sunrise Beach close to the lifesavers’ complex and in full view of beachgoers, a mother and her young child with their dog were attacked and robbed.

The mother was allegedly told by police officers sitting in their vehicle to report the matter at SAPS Muizenberg, but was offered no assistance.

Earlier this week at Muizenberg Beach, UCT student Nicola Kruger said: “I feel that it is limited enjoyment. I won’t do things like walk down the beach by myself or fall asleep on the beach. I am always cautious at the beach, around bags and things.”

Photographer and UCT finance student Shakeel Toefy said he was aware of crime wherever he went and “as a photographer, when you carry around equipment, you don’t want to have to feel you’re constantly looking over your shoulder. I want to enjoy the beach.”

Earlier this month, MID reported the area had experienced a rise in violent crime since July, with nine cases reported. The officers had assisted people who had been violently attacked by muggers on the catwalk from Muizenberg to St James and at Sunrise Beach. MID chairperson Marion Wagner said besides the usual 24/7 public safety patrollers, two foot patrollers and a vehicle patrol, there would now also be two day-shift patrollers.